What Is Labor Day 2012? Top Sales From Lowes, Walmart, And More; A Brief History Of The Holiday

Labor Day 2012 is finally here, marking the end of summer and bringing in the autumn season. The national holiday is a time for a lazy break from work, a final summer barbeque and major retail sales.

But Labor Day isn't all about grilling burgers and bargain shopping. The American federal holiday, annually observed on the first Monday in September, commemorates the economic and social contributions of the labor force. The holiday itself pays tribute to the overall achievements of American workers, originating in 1882.

In that year, a machinist and secretary of Central Labor Union in New York named Matthew Maguire proposed the holiday. However, some have also argued that Labor Day was created by Peter J. Maguire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882, after he witnessed the annual labor festival of Toronto, Canada.

The first Labor Day was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City, and has made its way to the year 2012.

So what is there to do this Labor Day? The American work force is encouraged to relax and spend their hard earned cash on this national holiday, and below is a list of some of the major deals to look out for.